Amine Gouiri continues to face a difficult spell at Olympique de Marseille as he searches for his first goal of the season.
The Algerian forward, once hailed for his sharpness and creativity upon arriving at the club, has yet to rediscover the decisive form that defined his early days at the Stade Vélodrome.
Despite the slow start, Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi remains confident in Gouiri’s potential. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Italian coach dismissed growing concerns about the striker’s performances.
“I still see him in good shape,” De Zerbi said. “I think you’re asking too many questions.
He’s calm, and he understands he can start a match or come on in the second half. We have many matches ahead, and everyone will get minutes. In the end, the pitch always decides.”
De Zerbi also urged supporters and pundits to consider Gouiri’s profile when evaluating his performances. “Gouiri is not a pure goalscorer,” he explained. “He has never scored 20 or 30 goals a season.
He is a creative player who likes to combine, participate, and involve others. He does not always attack from deep, unlike Aubameyang, but his qualities are exactly what we need.”
The 24-year-old faces tough competition for a starting place this season, with veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in strong form and rising talent Robinio Vaz pushing for more opportunities.
Gouiri now finds himself part of a highly competitive attacking rotation, but De Zerbi views this as a positive challenge rather than a setback.
“This season, I told my players it doesn’t matter if they play 20, 70, or 90 minutes,” De Zerbi added.
“The level of contribution must always remain the same. A match can be won by the starters or by the substitutes. Every player has a role to play.”
Criticism around Gouiri’s performances has grown louder in recent weeks, with some questioning whether he can deliver consistently for a club with Marseille’s ambitions.
However, De Zerbi remains steadfast in his support and believes the forward will soon make a decisive impact.
The coach’s faith stems from Gouiri’s technical skill set and versatility, attributes that add depth and unpredictability to Marseille’s attacking approach.
While the goals have not yet arrived, Gouiri continues to contribute in build-up play and link-up phases — areas De Zerbi views as vital to the team’s offensive structure.
Gouiri’s next chance to break his scoring drought comes this Saturday, when Marseille travel to face Metz.
The match presents an opportunity for the Algerian international to silence critics and regain confidence in front of goal.
A breakthrough performance could not only reignite his season but also strengthen his role in De Zerbi’s plans moving forward.
Marseille’s coaching staff and supporters alike hope that Gouiri’s patience and persistence will soon pay off.
With De Zerbi’s backing and continued belief in his talent, the forward now faces the challenge of turning potential into tangible results on the pitch.
Whether this weekend marks the turning point remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Gouiri retains the full trust of his manager and a key place in Marseille’s ambitions for the season.
🚨De Zerbi :
“Gouiri ? Je le vois toujours en forme.
Je ne pense pas qu’il se pose autant que questions que vous.
Il est serein il sait qu’il peut jouer et rentrer en deuxième mi-temps.
Il y a énormément de matchs.
Cette année c’est simple pour moi de gérer le groupe: il… pic.twitter.com/HA5kMGoDDS
— Massilia Zone (@MassiliaZone) October 3, 2025
